Today's headlines

30 Oct 2013

Two Great Barrier Reef board members are being urged to stand down over a possible conflict of interest. In international news, four people have been sentenced over a plot to kill former South African president Nelson Mandela.

Great Barrier Reef board members urged to stand down

Two Great Barrier Reef board members have been accused of a conflict of interest over their links to resource firms. Tony Mooney and Jon Grayson are under scrutiny from environmentalists, as Mooney works for a coal company and Grayson owns a share in Gasfields Water and Waste Services. Environmentalists are concerned the board is compromising to allow development on and around the reef to go ahead. ABC News has more.

Inflatable pool toys save the lives of two men

Two inflatable pool toys saved the lives of two men when their light plane crashed into Bass Strait on Monday. Shayd Hector and Joel Nelson were immersed in the icy waters for two and a half hours before being rescued by police. They suffered hypothermia but survived thanks to the lilos they purchased mere hours before they took to the air. Read more.

Peru Six allowed to give statements in Australia

Six Australians being investigated over the death of a Peru man have won the right to provide evidence in Australia. The woman and five men became embroiled in the case after a doorman fell off a balcony at a Lima hotel. They have been granted their appeal to give statements under the International Co-Operation Procedure. Watch the video on Sky News.

French women file complaint against Lagerfeld

A French association fighting for the rights of curvier women has made an official complaint against designer Karl Lagerfeld over comments he made regarding catwalk models. The Chanel designer allegedly claimed that no one wants to see plump girls on the catwalk. The association filed a complaint at the prosecutor’s office accusing the designer of defamatory and discriminatory comments. Read more.

Mastermind jailed for Mandela murder plot

The mastermind behind a right-wing plot to kill former South African president Nelson Mandela was sentenced to 35 years in jail yesterday. Mike du Toit, the ringleader of a white supremacist militia called Boeremag, also aimed to drive blacks out of South Africa. Four other defendants were also sentenced yesterday in Pretoria. Seven News has the full story.